Pickerel season starts
Everything seems to be slow in arriving this year, and the grand opening of the Pickerel Weed flowers is no exception to nature's general tardiness. But late or not, the show has begun and these wetlands beauties are now coming rapidly into glory. For now, the blossoms are oddly empty, so I've got the enjoyment all to myself. But in short order, they'll be a non-stop attraction to bumblebees; butterflies, including Least Skippers, hummingbird sphinxes, and Silver-spotted Skippers; and, of course, various dragonflies and damselflies, who use them as hunting and courtship perches. Then, my flower portraits will have to include cameos by lots of other species. I don't mind.